Resveratrol May Help Improve Cognitive Function in Postmenopausal Women

Cognitive decline and memory problems associated with menopause may be linked to fluctuating levels of hormones in the brain and decreased blood flow to the brain. A recent study suggests that supplementation with resveratrol may help improve cognitive function in postmenopausal women.

Participants in the study included 125 postmenopausal women with an average age of 65. They were given 150 mg of trans-resveratrol or a placebo daily for 12 months. They then crossed over to the other intervention for another 12 months. The researchers measured cognitive function and cerebrovascular function in the middle cerebral artery at the end of each study period.

Supplementation with resveratrol resulted in a 33% improvement in overall cognitive performance compared to placebo. It also resulted in a 12% improvement in cerebrovascular responsiveness. In addition, participants over the age of 65 saw an improvement in verbal memory during resveratrol supplementation compared to participants younger than 65. 

The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Newcastle. It was published online ahead of print on August 27, 2020 in the journal Clinical Nutrition.